Turkish Reform Monitoring Group To Hold Its Fifth Meeting On Monday

ANKARA - Turkish reform monitoring group, formed as a part of European Union (EU) adjustment process, would hold its fifth meeting on Monday, Turkish Foreign Ministry said on Saturday.
The Ministry said that Turkish Justice Minister Cemil Cicek, Interior Minister Abdulkadir Aksu and other officials would attend the meeting which would be held under chairmanship of Turkish Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul.
This fifth meeting of the group is important since it is the first meeting to be held after Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer ratified the constitutional amendment package.
Legal arrangements to be made to put into practice constitutional amendments, implementation of former adjustment packages, additional measures to be taken, legal and practical shortcomings, and solutions will be taken up in the meeting.
The group will discuss the draft law on turning State Security Courts (DGMs) into heavy criminal courts, draft Turkish Penal Code on parliament's agenda, draft Code of Criminal Procedure (CMUK), draft Press Law, draft law on compensating damages of terrorism, and preparations of new Associations and Societies Law.
Participants will also take up implementation of cultural rights including judicial reform and broadcasting in different languages and dialects, problems stemming from implementation of regulations of some non-governmental organizations functioning in the field of human rights, prevention of torture and mal-treatment and punishment of torturers, situation of non-Muslim minorities and use of fundamental freedoms.
EU Commission will unveil its report on the progress made by Turkey on the road to EU membership in 2004 at the beginning of October. This report will constitute a basis for the decision that the EU will take on whether or not to start full membership negotiations with Turkey.
The report is expected to start to be prepared in coming months.
(BRC) 22.05.2004